Ryan Patrick Matthias Of NC Arrested For Murder Of Deborah Castellano In MD

COLUMBIA, Md. (WUSA9) -- Howard County police officials say that police in North Carolina have arrested a man accused of shooting his ex-girlfriend in her car in Columbia, Md.

According to police, 43-year-old Ryan Patrick Matthias of Charlotte, NC is behind held in the murder of 47-year-old Deborah Castellano.

Police say Castellano was found with multiple gunshot wounds in her car in the 9600 block of Basket Ring Road in Columbia on May 4 after they received a 911 calla bout a woman who appeared to be injured in a parked car. Castellano had recently moved a home on that street after moving from New York, say police.

Police report that detectives learned that Castellano had been harassed by her ex-boyfriend Ryan Matthias. They say both had been arrested in New York in March in a domestic violence incident, and that Castellano had ended the relationship and moved to Maryland. Police say Matthias harassed and stalked her, but that she had not reported the harassment to police in Howard County. Family members told police after the murder that they had been concerned for her safety, according to authorities.

Police say detectives found out Matthias had rented a car the day before the murder and then returned the car the day after the murder with more than 1,000 miles logged on it. Detectives found other information that also led them to identify Matthias as the suspect in her murder, say police.

Saturday, Matthias was taken into custody by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police in North Carolina. Police say he is being held until he is extradited to Maryland to face charges.